Game accessory



AprilZO, 1954 G. F. WALES 2,676,086

GAME ACCESSORY Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EQZ 4'0 GEozGE F. WA ES k 50 Q JM 5.

Qz forney G. F. WALES GAME ACCESSORY April 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1950 INVENTOR. 650x65 WAAES G. F. WALES GAME ACCESSORY Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 WIN I i 52a. I V I [lmnlvtuh I ll. l l l I I I I l w I 1 h, l 4 @54 0 50 5 INVENTOR.

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GAME ACCESSORY George F. Wales, Kenmore," Application March 20, 1950, Seria1No.150,669

This invention relates to a game accessory, being concerned more particularly with an accessory which, although not so limited, is characterized by features which render it of particular utility for recording and indicating themoves of the game pieces,; or men, of various games such as chess, checkers'and the like.

With a view to adding to their knowledge and increasing their skill,:'students and adherents of games of the kind referred to, study games, and moves thereof, as actually played during various matches and tournaments. Hypothetical situations or problemsjsuch as might arise in an actual game are also studied with the same objects in view. I As the games of chess and checkers-are of ancient origin: and as their popularity has endured-throughout the ages," there have been innumerable books, periodicals and articlespublished .for the'student and adherent presenting different situations and problems and indicating the strategy called for. under various circumstances. Also, over the years there; have been developed standard. systems of nomenclature and notation for such games. For example, in the game of checkers there is the Alma opening which determines the sequence of moves which follow in a game. As thousands of possible moves can bemade from anygiven opening; the student endeavors to learn as many of these openings as possible together with the moves best calculated to "overcome'anyadvantage obtained by." such openings. In order that such movesmay be indicated, or recorded, the squares on the'b'oard are numbered from 1 to 32. Moves can, therefore, be designated by referring to'the numbersof the squares. Thus'10-15, *iorexample, indicates a move. of a game piece, or man, from square. lO to square In chess also the well' known and less frequently employed: openings are referred to byi'names' as, for examp1e,.'Evans Gambit. chess, however, the system of notation is necessarily different from that of checkers. For example, a move designation may read Knight-to Queen Bishop Three, indicated by the characters Heretofore'in employing-the systems of notation generally described above, it has been "the practice to arrange on a game board are: the game pieces involved in any particular move and then malre the move calledfor. "The mental activity involved'in reading the instructions: and in arranging and movingthe game 'pieceson the game board inaccordance with such instructions renders it *diiiic'ult to concentrate properly "on,

whicii' are' made. 1

and assimilate, the'rea'sons' behind the moves l'Claim. (c1. s e vs) The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to overcome the above objection, this object contemplating an accessory which may be availed of ,to'record accurately and with facility the moves of a game as it is playedior as played and previously recorded) in sucha manner that replaying of the game, or moves thereof, may be accomplished without the necessity (and distraction) of having to render to and assimilate numerical or lettered data for the purpose oi. visualizing the various moves on the game board.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game accessory for the purpose generally described which is simple and compact and which may be readily carried in a pocket or purse. A, still further object is an accessory which is sodesignedthat-the indicia on the record form may be provided simply by a pencil or pen, although other special instruments for this purpose may be employed, if so desired.

yet another object is to provide an accessory which may beavailed of to record the moves of a game in such a manner that such game, or moves thereof, may be replayed at any time, it being understood, that the accessory is available for use (in its indicating capacity) not only in connection with records-produced on it but also in connection-"with recordsproduced on other similar accessories or printed for such purpose.

Asrrelated object is" to provide an accessory characterized by features which facilitate identification oi the game piece involved in any particular move. itsorigin and destination.

A still further object is to provide an accessory which may be utilized to record or indicate, either or both, the moves of the game pieces or a game of the :character described, this object contem-- plating the use of the device either by --a par-' ticipant ,or anobserver.

Yet another object is to provide an accessory wherein with respect to any particular move only theorigin anddestination of the particular game piece involved are recorded or indicated, there being provision; however, for recording or indieating" at any stage of play the positions of all of the game pieces, or allot-the game pieces or one player.

A related object'is to provide an accessory wherein only the origin or a move is indicated with destination left to the discr'etion of the player," or conversely,}wherein the destination of a move is indicated and the origin left tothe discretion of theplaye I, i

Afurtherobject is an accessory which is so designed that a move involving any particular game piece may be indicated bytwo indicia, each 3 of these being Of a simple nature such as a dot, for example.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an accessory wherein the area which represents, or simulates, the game board and the record form are so related that the capacity of the record form with respect to the number of indicia which it may carry is large, this having the advantage that the number of games, or moves, which a record form may carry is correspondingly large and having the attendant advantage that V the use of record forms of small size is rendered possible.

A still further object is an accessory which is so designed that it is available for use in connection with various kinds of games.

A still further object is an accessory wherein provision is made for recording, or indicating, notes pertinent to the moves which are recorded or indicated. Y

A still further object is an accessory which may be produced inexpensively from inexpensive materials and which, as a result of its low cost, may be discarded without substantial loss when it has served its purpose.

A still further object is to provide an accessory wherein the record form employed is of such a size and weight that it'will be suitable for use in correspondence matches, being sent back and forth betweenthe contestants through the mail for use in the duplicate accessories of each of the games participants.

A still further object is an accessory which is so designed that when employed for indicating purposes, any particular move may be hidden until the user makes what, under the circumstances-he considers to be the proper move and the accessory thereafter manipulated so that the correct move will be indicated and compared with the actual'move. I

Yet another object is a novel design and arrangement of the parts of the accessory, whereby to simplify and facilitate its use for-the purposes described and in so doing enable the novice-and the expert to acquire knowledge and gain skill in a highly interesting and entertaining manner.

The accessory isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

- Figure 1 is a planview of an accessory embodying the features of the invention, the accessory in this instance being .designed particularly for use in connection with the game of-checkers;

Figure 1a is afragmentary view illustrating another means for indexing a record in relation to the accessory.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a back view of the accessory;

Figure 3a is a sectional view taken as noted along line 3a--3a of Figure 2.

Figure 3b is a sectional view. takenalong line 312-312 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a plan. viewsimilar to Figure 1, the

accessory in this instance being designed for use a punch insert, showing the latter in its operative relation. with respect to, the accessory and acter, being in the form of a dot or hole.

4 being operated to punch a perforation in the record form;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of accessory wherein provision is made for recording or indicating notes pertinent to the moves recorded or indicated in connection with the use of the accessory; and

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken along line H)--|0 of Figure 9.

The invention contemplates an accessory which is of such a size that it may be readily carried in the pocket or purse of a player or observer and be utilized for recording the moves of a game by a pencihpen or suitable perforating instrument as in each case the indicia is simple in char- The ccessory may be held in one hand while recording the moves of a game with the other or while transferring to the accessory a previously recorded game. After a game, or moves thereof, has been recorded, the accessory is employed as an indicator and the game, or moves thereof, may be replayed without the distraction of referring to and assimilating numerical o1- lettered data as a prelude to visualizing the moves involved and the strategy on which such moves are based.

The accessory, as illustrated in Figure 1, is designed for use in connection with the game of checkers. t includes a holder which, as best shown in Figure 2, is in the form of a flat sleeve and which may be formed from a single sheet of material such as paper, metal, plastic or any other material of a suitably stiff character. The front side of the sleeve is suitably provided with a checkered surface which simulates a checkerboard and which may, if desired, be employed as a checkerboard. The squares of the checkered area may, in accordance with conventional practice, be numbered 1 through 32 to facilitate identification of the playing pieces and the designation of moves.

In accordance with the invention, the front side of the sleeve is formed with an aperture, or window, 60, shown in Figure 3b, which is located in each area occupied by one of .the squares, the apertures, or windows, preferably, although not necessarily being located centrally with respect to their respective squares.

The holder is open at its upper and lower ends and accommodates a strip-like record form 40 so that the latter may be moved lengthwise while being guided so that lateral movement to any substantial degree is prevented. In this connection it will be noted that the apertures in the front side of the holder are arranged in a plurality of parallel, linear series which extend at an angle with respect to the marginal edges of the record form and the line of travel of the latter. Preferably, this angular relation and the spacing of the apertures of the various series is such that only one aperture will be located along any line parallel to the line of travel of the record strip. This relation is clearly illustrated by the lines X--Y which are drawn parallel to the line of travel of the record form and one of which passes through each of the apertures of one of the linear series. Hence any indicia made on the record form through any one of the apertures 60 will, as the record form is advanced, move along a line which will miss all other of the apertures. The arrangement of apertures in the manner described thus has theadvantage that only those indicia involving a particular move will be visible at any one time. A further ad vantage obtained is that the capacity.ofv the ale-meats representing moves involving a plurality of squares in the same linear' series; each" -indicia-= provided on the record form will registeronly with the apertures "through which it was -pre'- du'ced" sc that the -particularmoves; in their proper sequence; will-be indicatedwhen the rec w rd fornris-subsequently passed through the de' A the'upperend-and on one side -of the -"holder e -front side' of thelatter -is :cutaway to-aprcvide a; window -53; 'An arrow points to a trans-* versely extendingreference"line sea which leadsto th'e central portion of the-inner; longitudinal' ly-extending edgeof-the windowand opp'osite'the 1? window the holder bears "the legend --B1ack.- At the -lower endand on the opposite side of the holdera 'similar window- 54 is-for-medi In this in stance arrarrow points to a transversely-extend ing reference 1ine54a and theholder'in this area Refer-ring to Figure 1, it will lie-noted thatthe windows-'53 and 5 1,- the latter shown in sectional view 3a, expose the*opposite;=longitudinally extendiiig marginal edges of-the' front of therecord form lfl throug The' marginal'edge which is exposed lie-window" 53 carries 1 transversely=extending lines 53b which 'are regularly spaced and which may be alignedwith the reference line 530;-

by -movingthe -record form 4i lengthwise: opposite edge of the record form carries similar lines-$4bwhich are regularly spaced and which may be moved into alignmentwith the-reference line 54a when the reco1d form is moved lengthwise, it being noted that the lines 531) .are

The

so related'to"the lines b -that the lines of the twoseries align alternately with the gauge lines Ha -and 54w when-the record form is moved in the manner described. H

Figure -1a illustratesa modification of the alignment or a register means 54 1 comprising 1 a notch 1 54 m: holder to which notches i54b are aligned in the f manner and 'for the purpose de-v--- scribed heretofore."

The -Bla'ck and White legends ontheihol'deri represent -the iopposing players and 'the:f-particus-i;: lariline. .53'bflor 54b :which aligns. with 11353 respecz-"w tive'.references lines 253a; or :54a indicates. which:

lengthwise invthe direction. of the. arrow until the next line on the opposite edge of the form is aligned with its reference line, thereby indicating that the move of the opposing player is to .be

recordedy'or made; It will be apparent, there fore; thatwhen a game-is being recorded-it is necessary 'only'to shift the recordform one--incre-' ment-and then produce indica a, suchas shown at l l'-"l 5;" Figure -1, upon the record form f through the 'two apertures ills-which 2 represent the-origin and destinationaof the game piece in-'-.-

vo1veds Thereafter,: the: cardimaybe shifted anotheri increment "and: the same procedure: re-

peatedewithrespectto the opposing'player. Uponcompletion of the game, the record form 40 with the-indicia thereon,,assuming the accessory is being, used for. recording, will represent the various-tmoveslof the games as played and in their proper sequence.

When it is desired to replaythe'game; it is only" necessary to set up a checkerboardwith thegame 6 i 0rd:etornrsincrement hm-incrementrinrthersameer manner in whichiiit;wvasumovedilwhenithe gamer wasl 'recorded' iandgby makingteachamove called for-after each: movementroii themre'cord form; re-

playing :of'sithe'tgame' will be? in: accordance with a the-original gamesthe'fmovementsz of the game's pieces:onithe gamewboardfbeing;of courseg in act-w cor-dance withthe' moves indicatedqbyi the 'acces sory'; The: use 'of-theaccessory, therefore, in the: mannervdescribed "1 has Ythe advantage; that the studentaorradh'erent need onlyh b'ezconcerned with "v the immediatermovesthat are-made; as-indicated? by the access'ory: The neediforiassimilatinglnu merical or lettered data such. .as has. heretofore been employed :to indicatethetmoves of a: game" is avoided? The student or' adherentrmay, therefore, concentrate more' 'fu'lly on the strategy in; volved infconnection: with 'thei various moves in' volved.

As a means of instruction it is also DOSSibIBr'EtOH illustrate first only" the"de'sti'nation 'or originationat one-position of the record leaving it tothe..- student or 'adherent- -to attempt to discover?" whi'chever element ofthe' move is missing; The:- exercise'of the-mental faculties in determining:- say the orig'inati'orr of a game piece knowing: :only its-destination or yice versa being particularly; suited to" training in the science of r the :game. The student's "choice of movesicanlthen' be vertl'-nfled by advancing the record to the next positio'n at "whichthe missing elementis disclosed;

Although reference has been made to the :use of the accessory primarily *as 1 a recorder and 'in-'- dicator, it is to be'j understood th'at the 'accessory itself may serve as a gamelboardgif de- I sired; in such case thegame pieces. may be. transparent or washer-like in: shape, such-as" is shown inmyco-pending application, Serial; No; l55,l49, filed Apr-il l1, -1950, so-thatthey will not conceal the apertures in'the squaresawhich-i may be occupied by them;

The back of theliolderi. may, as shown inzFig-' ure *3, be iormed-with a transversely 'extending.- window 52.-'-- The latter "exposes-the back of' ther record form- 10 "thereby making itipossibl to. '7 write any notes; such as note 52a,zupon1thehrec- 0rd form which maybe-pertinent to any= of :the'": moves recordedupon the I front of the recordi form. 1 3

The-structural featuresof the accessory are: such that the latter may be availed ofiwith equal! facility in connection-with the game-of 'chess;--= as thecheekeredfarea employed is the" sameas in checkers. However, asall of the squares-are 1? employed instead "of [halfof them', a different notation-system is employed for designating :the squares. Anaccessory suitable for :use 'With respectito chess may,ftherefore-, be thesame-struce turally' as '.the' checker "accessory heretofore de 4 d the :record form being modified suitablyv with respect to the difierences in thenotationasystems. If desired a' single. accessory may beprovided so. that onewface may be'employedas a recorder and indicator in con?- -nection-. with the game of checkers while the opposite face may: be-employed in a. similar man-v ner in/connections with. the game of chess.

An accessory designedespecially for use in connection with vthe game of chessis'illustrated in Figure 4,'and"thevarious related sectional views. Referring to-Ffigure 4, it willbe noted that 'thesqua'res'of the checkered area'are num bered-in the direction-of playand--that-the squares extending -tra'n'sversely 'with respect towthe direction of play are 'lettered so -that ico-ordi nates of any move may be designated by reference to such numbers and letters.

As an alternate structure, the holder 50 shown in Figure 4 differs structurally from the one shown in Figure 1 in the respect that the central areas of the squares are in the form of conical seats 12 which taper in the direction of the apertures 6|] through which the record form 40 is exposed. By forming similarly-shaped projections on the bottoms of any game pieces employed in connection with the acc'essory,:-the game pieces will be held against accidental shifting. with respect to the squares which they occupy. Openings through the game pieces will expose the record form through the apertures 66.

'As has been noted, the indicia on the record form may be dot-like in character and may be produced by a pencil or pen. However, if desired, special indicia-forming instruments may be employed. Special instruments of this character are shown, for example, in Figures '7 and 8, being indicated generally at 83. As both instruments in those instances have been designedespecially for use in connection with the accessory shown in Figure l, they are formedwith a conical base 84 which fits in the conical depressions I2. In both instruments a stem 85, which is carried by the instruments, is normally held in a retracted position by a spring 85. The latter surrounds the stem 85 and is operative to hold an actuating element 37, or button, 'in'an extended position. In its use, the actuating element 8'! may be depressed, as shown in Figure 8,-to cause the stem 85 which, as shown in Figure 7, may have a pencil or pen point 85a, to mark the record, or as shown in Figure 8, may have a punch 85b to be projected and thereby perforate the record form below the depression 12 in which the instrument is, at the time, positioned, it being noted, as shown in Figure 6, that the back wall of the holder has, perforations 88 which are aligned with the perforations 6B or the checkered area on the front wall. When designed for use with the marking device shown in Figure 7, this backwall of the holder'50' may i.

or may not have the perforations 88. The taper of the base of the instruments 8 3 conform to the taper of the seats 12. Hence the latter facilitate positioning of either instrument in the proper relation with respect to the aligned apertures through which the stem element is movable to mark or perforate the record form. This arrangement also assists in the rapid interpreta--, tion of the record as it places indicia 60a on the record 40, in the center of the area defined by F the apertures Bli as is-illustrated in Figure 4 by the indicia 60a in Whites Q2 and Q4. The contrast between indicia Gila and the surrounding area of record 40, as defined by aperture 6|], is much more easy to see than the indicia Gila illustrating move ll-to 15 in Figure 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, provision ismade for writing in notes and other information, which may be pertinent to the moves recorded upon or indicated by the accessory. In this connection, it will be noted that the holder, as inthe previous embodiments, is of simple form wherein a top section 90 overlies a bottom section 9i and in spaced relation with respect to the latter, although extending only part way across the'bottom section. At its opposite side, the bottom section 9! is formed with a flange 92, the top a holder and guide for a record form I00 while the top section 90 also carries the checkered area l5! which is arranged in the same angular relation with respect to the direction of movement of the record form as described in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

In the present embodiment, the record form Hill has a longitudinally-extending area lfll upon which indicia may be recorded, or which may carry recorded indicia, and a parallel-extending area I02 which is exposed between the free edges of the top section 90 and flange 92 and which is adapted to carry notes pertinent to the moves recording upon or indicated by the area it. It will be noted that the area I02 of the record form carries a column I03 in which the various moves are indicated by notation indicia which become visible in the proper sequence of such moves as the recrod form is moved to expose such indicia above the upper edge of the flange 92. Reference is also made to the column [04 which includes an indicator square ")5 which signifies Blacks move if black, and Whites move if white. The numerical move column I06 serves to rapidly determine the number of the move f or reference or other purposes.

The various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in connection with the games of chess and checkers. It is to be understood, however, that thi is intended by way of example only and that the advantages of the invention may be attained by the use of the accessory in various environments in which recording and indicating for other purposes may be desired.

I claim as my invention:

A game device of the character described for recording and reproducing the successive moves of the gamepieces in a game of checkers, chess, or the like, comprising a holder having front, back, and side walls, and a record form located between said front and back walls and guided by said side walls for step-by-step movement longitudinally of and between the walls of the holder on successive moves of the opposing players of the game, the front wall of said holder having its outside surface marked out as a gameboard which is disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of said record form, said gameboard having a plurality of identical playing squares, and said front wall being provided with a plurality of apertures through each of which a mark may be made on said record form, each aperture being disposed within a separate one of said playing squares, said apertures being identically located within the boundaries of the several playing squares and being disposed in a plurality of parallel lines which extend at said angle to the direction of movement of said record form, so

that the marks made through the apertures in l the different squares will move, respectively, along separate, parallel longitudinal paths as said record form is moved in said holder, two

sets of indicating means on said holder, and two sets of indicating means on said record form, one set of the indicating means of said holder being disposed at one side of said game board and along one side of said holder, and the other set of indicating means of said holder being disposed at the other side of said game board and along the opposite side of said holder, and the two sets of indicatingmeans of said record form and bottom sections andjthe l e 92 providing comprising two rectilinearly-spaced series of.

2,876,086 9 10 marks along opposite lateral edges, respectively, References Cited in the file of this patent 0;? said record form to read, respectively, against UNITED STATES PATENTS the two sets of indicating means of said holder,

when aligned, the series of marks in each series Number K Date being equi-spaced, but the marks in one series 5 1294348 Dunhln 1919 being staggered with reference to the marks in 1,785,366 Hume 23, 1930 the other series to indicate, respectively, the suc- 113593750 Pratt May 1932 cessive steps of movement of said record form 24,71,373 m Sept- 1939 corresponding, respectively, to successive moves 2329561 Smlth sept- 1943 of the opposing players, respectively, of the game. 10 2543339 simunek 1951 

